WASHINGTON – Noting that the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) Act is moving ever closer to congressional passage, national higher education leaders announced the formation of the Act on the DREAM Coalition, comprising more than two dozen higher education organizations that support the legislation. The Hispanic Association of Colleges Universities (HACU) took the lead in uniting 25 national higher education organizations in an effort to help bring the measure to final votes before Congress’ August recess.
“Mr. President and members of Congress, it is high time for you to act on the dream,” said HACU president Dr. Antonio Flores, during the coalition announcement Wednesday at a news conference in downtown Washington.
Supporters have painted the bill with the brush of social justice, calling the challenges undocumented students face unjust and contradictory to the American values many of them have adopted since moving with their families to the U.S.
“We are not a nation that penalizes children for the actions of their parents,” Flores said, referring to the abundance of case law that protects children in the U.S. judicial system.
Keeping these students out of American colleges and universities is also an economic issue and “a colossal waste of precious resources,” advocates said.
“The DREAM Act stands to unleash the potential contribution of academically talented and socially responsible young people, who today remain in the shadows of our communities because they were brought undocumented into this country. … They have grown up as Americans in our midst and have become exemplary students and young leaders,” Flores said.
Individually, several higher education organizations have made the bill, which outlines a process by which undocumented students can be legalized, a top legislative priority. But together the coalition hopes to form a stronger lobby for a stand-alone bill independent of a comprehensive immigration reform package.
